L 202 ________„_^__ 

C5 ~ 

^S72 REPORT 

Copy 1 



OP 



HON. WM. MORllOW, 

Superintendent of Pithlic Instruction, ex officio, 



TO THE 



CA^LLED SESSIOIsT 

OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE; 



EMBRACING 



j^ :R.:E}T^(D:EtT 



BY THE 



ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, 



NASHVILLE: 

JONES, RURVrS & CO., PKINTEES TO THE STATE. 

1872. 



REPORT 



OP 



Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex officio, 

TO THE 

CA-LLED SESSION 

OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE 



EMBRACING 




BY THE 



ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, 

J. B. KII.1LEBREW. 



NASHVILLE: 

JONES, PURVIS & CO., PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 

1872. 



1 1'] % 



ij. ofO, 



REPORT 



OP THE 



SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



To THE Genaral Assembly of the State op Tennesse : 

As the subject of amending the Common School Laws of the State 
is included among matters to be considered during the present extra 
session ; and as a Eeport by my Assistant, as Superintendent of Pub- 
lic Instruction, contains facts and statistics showing the present con- 
dition of Common Schools throughout the State, I herewith transmit 
it for your consideration, hoping that it may aid you in arriving at 
a just conclusion on this important subject. 

The facts therein presented, showing the efiPectsof a general diffu- 
sion of education among the masses, upon the productive capacity 
of the country, the prevention of crime, &c., and the apathy of the 
counties, present the question squarely as to whether it is not the 
imperative duty of your honorable body at this session to impose a 
Bpecific tax for School purposes. I earnestly recommend that five 
thousand copies be printed and distributed throughout the State. 

Eespectfully, 

W. MORROW, 
Treas. and Supt. Pub. Inst., ex officio. 



EEPORT 



OF THE 



ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



Nashville, March 14, 1872. 

Sir: — Immediately upon my appointment as Assistant Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, on the 22d of January last, a circular 
letter was addressed to the County Court Clerks of the ninety -two 
organized counties in the State, propounding certain inquiries, and 
requesting that answers be returned within ten days. Between fifty 
and sixty counties have responded, and the information so procured 
has been collated, condensed and arranged in the alphabetical order 
of the counties, all of which has been ajjpended and made a part of 
this preliminary Eeport. It will be seen that less than thirty coun- 
ties have levied a tax for schuol purposes, and in the remainder no 
action whatever has been taken by the County Courts. The infor- 
mation obtained is very meager, and some system should be devised 
by which more reliable statistics may be procured. A ver}^ few 
counties have schools at present in operation, and a degree of lan- 
guor and inaction prevails throughout the State that bodes anything 
else but good to our educational interests. 

The law requiring the County Court, in case a majority of the 
Justices shall refuse to levy a tax, to order an election to ascertain 
the wishes of a majority of the voters in the county has in many 
counties remained a dead letter upon the statute book. The Magis- 
trates have, in many cases, assumed the responsibility of deciding 
the question themselves. Unless some measure can be devised to 
compel the Magistrates to discharge the obligations resting upon 



6 



them in this particular, it will be far better for the interests of 
education that the whole law be repealed. Executed but par- 
tially and feebly, as it is at present, and dependent for its 
efficiency upon the personal feelings of the Magistrates of each 
county, there can be no permanency in the schools, and but little 
profit. JS"© system requiring a series of years to perfect and 
carry out, can be established. Indeed, while the county system, 
if adopted, and faithfully administered in the spirit of the law, 
would be promotive of good results, still the want of unity of 
aim and of action throughout the State, which can only be 
secured by having. a competent head, will always bo a drawback 
to the highest efficiency and usefulness of our public schools. In 
many of the counties where a school-tax has been levied, Commis- 
sioners have been elected who are opposed to an}^ system of public 
instruction, and feel a greater desire to make public schools unpopu- 
lar by making them inefficient and of but little value, than to see 
them gaining ground and winning their way to public favor by edu- 
cating, elevating and refining the public heart and mind. In neigh- 
borhoods where a high order of intelligence prevails, and where a 
decided interest has been manifested by the best citizens, good 
schools exist under the county system. On the other hand, where 
these conditions do not exist, free schools of the most worthlgss char- 
acter are kept up a few weeks in the year, and taught by men whose 
chief distinction and fitness for the position lies in the severity and 
cruelty of their discipline, and their adhesion to text-books used 
half a century ago. In many cases these men have been employed 
by the Commissioners without examination ; for men who are quali- 
fied to conduct such examinations are unwilling to act as Commis- 
sioners, and devote their time and energies to schools so ephemeral 
in their character and so unproductive of benefits to the commu- 
nity. 

My observations and the information I have been able to gather 
since entering upon my present duties have convinced mo of the 
necessity of having some central head in the State, whose whole 
time shall be devoted to the supervision of schools already in opera- 
tion and to the creation of a sentiment in favor of public education 
throughout the State. In this manner there can be collected and 
published that statistical information which the experience of every 
State, where a system of public instruction has been successfully 
inaugurated, shows to be a necessity in order to ensure the greatest 
improvement in the system and a harmonious working of ihe whole. 



Some public record should be made in order that the schools in one 
county may be compared and contrasted with those of another, and 
80 beget a "healthy spirit of emulation which contributes so much to 
elevate the standard of excellence in every vocation of life. 

It is a painful distinction to a State whose sons heretofore have 
been distinguished for their valor and whose daughters have been 
noted for their accomplishments, to be classed second in illiteracy. 
It suggests retrenchment in a manner that we are least able to aiford. 
Ignorance since the world begun is the parent of crime. Darkness 
of intellect and moral turpitude usually go hand in hand. It is surely 
bad policy to destroy the means that lead to social elevation, if by so 
doing crime and vice are multiplied and encouraged. Vice is conta- 
gious. It infects the atmosphere of the ignorant ; it lies in the 
haunts of the untutored ; it lingers by the side of stupidity ; it mates 
with prejudice; it consorts with passion, eri-or and superstition, and 
finds its safest lurking place in the dens of the illiterate. Thrift, 
peace, plenty, honesty, and good morals are to be found usually in 
the abodes of intelligence. They keep pace with it. In Iceland, 
Norway, Sweeden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, and most of the 
German States where good schools are maintained, pauperism and 
crime have rapidly decreased, while in England where the common 
people are less educated than those of any Protestant country, 
pauperism has become an evil so monstrous that her wisest statesmen 
stand appalled at it. The statistics of crime in that country are so 
enormous and alarming that Mr. Forster, a member of Parliament, 
introduced and carried through a bill, in the year 1870, to secure 
school districts all over the country. Provision is now made for the 
education of every child in England and Wales. It was insisted by 
the friends of the bill that the extension of the franchise demanded 
increased facilities for education in order to insure the country 
against the corrupting influences of ignorant voters. 

I have referred to this because our State is in the same condition. 
During the last decade the franchise has been extended to 50,000 
ignorant voters,"whose obligations tosociety cannot be known unless 
society provides for their instruction. It is better to make them 
intelligent voters and laborers than to support them in our jails and 
penitentiaries. It is better to educate them than to give insecurity 
to property by suffering them to remain in ignorance and vice 
They are ductile material in the hands of designing men. 

There are occasions in the history of every State when its adver- 
sity or prosperity depends upon the direction given by the ruling 



8 

power. If that power is ignorance or superstition, there will be no 
abilty to improve its fortunes or to preserve its excellence. A dema- 
gogue prefers ignorance because it guarantees his advance ; he de- 
spises intelligence because it destroys his occupation and influence. 
From such a class of politicians nothing can be expected to advance 
the cause of education and improvement. They are the owls of 
society who work in darkness and obscurity, feast upon error and 
ignorance, and take their flight when the sunlight of knowledge and 
intelligence bursts upon them. " The greatest despotism on earth,' i 
says DeTocqueville, " is an excited untaught public sentiment, and 
we should hate not only despots, but despotism." What has Tennes- 
see lost already by her ignorant voters and corrupt politicians? She 
has contracted debts, without any corresponding benefit, amounting 
to millions. The old method of robbery has ceased. It is not now 
" Your money or your life 1" but " Place me in power." " Supply me 
with opportunities by giving me your vote, and I will make the rich 
men howl!" All the evil passions are appealed to. The untutored 
mind having an imperfect conception of right is worked upon until 
crime is committed, and society must pay for the punishment of the 
criminal. Public oj^inion must be enlightened where the structure 
of government gives power to public opinion, or else the State is 
constantly in danger. It slumbers, as it were, upon a volcano. There 
is no security in such State for property but in bolts and bars; there 
is no security for life but in the hangman's gallows. 

It would seem, without argument, to be a self-evident proj)osition 
that as the punishment of crime belongs to society as a whole, so 
the restraint and prevention of crime belong also to society, and 
that whatever the experience of mankind shows to be effective in 
restraining crime and securing property and life should be adopted 
by society to effect that end. Precisely the same course of reason 
ing would lead to the establishment of a system of public schools, 
that would lead to the erection of jails and penitentiaries. In truth 
the reason is greater for the establishment of schools, for the sta- 
tistics of every State show that " the ratio of uneducated criminals to 
the whole number of uneducated persons is twenty times as great as 
the ratio of educated criminals to the whole number of educated 
inhabitants." In the State of New York in the year 1841, it was 
twenty-eight times as great. The average per cent, of the State 
prison population in 1864 that could not read was 32. There were 
2400 belonging to that population, and they showed eleven times 
more ignorance than the population outside, because ib was ascer- 



9 

tained that only three per cent, of the non-prison population could 
not read. 

In the Auburn prison out of 244 inmates only 39 could read and 
write. In the Sing 3ing prison not five per cent, could write a legible 
hand, and not two per cent, could write a correct English sentence. 
Out of 700 in prison at one time only 3 were liberally educated. 

In 1840, in twenty counties in England and Wales with a popula- 
tion of 8,724,338, only 59 educated persons were convicted of crime. 
In thirty-two other counties, with a population of 7,182,491, not one 
educated person was convicted. On the other hand, out of a popu- 
lation of 59,123 apprehended by the officers of the law in 1845, 
15,263 could neither read nor write, and 39,659 could barely read. 

In the four best-taught counties in England there was one convic- 
tion for every 1,108 persons. In the four worst-taught, there was 
one for every 550 inhabitants. In the four best-taught counties 
there was one school to every 700 inhabitants. In the four woi'st- 
taught, there was one school for every 1,501 inhabitants ; from Which 
it is seen that crime was in almost exactly the reverse ratio to the 
amount of instruction received. 

Out of 252,544 persons convicted in England and Wales for a 
series of years, 229,300, or more than 90 per cent, were uneducated, 
and only 1,085 less than one-half of one per cent, were well edu- 
cated. 

It is asserted by a writer in the Princeton Review for January, 
1871, that 97 per cent, of the non -prison population in New York 
in 1864, could read; in the same year only 68 per cent, of the 
prison-population could read. Knowing how to read is two- 
thirds as favorable to honesty as not knowing. The same writer 
says that 67 per cent, out of 2,120 criminals in the Ohio Peni- 
tentiary were uneducated, that is, men who could barely read, or 
who could merely scratch their names : 14 per cent, did not know 
their letters, and 74 per cent, had never learned u trade. Here were 
81 per cent, ignorant of books. Mr. Kay, an English statesman, 
places the rate among the convicts of England as high as 95 per 
cent., and not one criminal in two hundred, deserves to be called 
educated. The Hon. John Eaton, Commissioner of Education, in 
his report for the year 1871, advanced sheets of which he furnished 
mo says there were 17,000 persons reported in the prisons of the 
United fStates in 1866. Of the crime committed in New England, 
at least 80. per cent, is done by those who have no elementary instruc- 
tion. All the crime committed in the United States is done by from 



10 

3 to 7 per cent, of tlie population, and less than one-fifth of one per 
cent, is committed by persons of education. 

But \vhy multiply exanaples? If any truth can be deduced from 
an accumulation of facts, surely enoui^h have been gathered to jus- 
tify the conclusion that education diminishes crime, improves the 
public morals, elevates the public sentiment, and adds to the public 
prosperity. The amount paid for education is so much saved from 
the amount that would be, without education, necessary to suppress 
crime, or punish a criminal. In an economical point of view it is 
cheaper to educat-e a man than punish him. Is it more in conso- 
nance with the feelings of the people of Tennessee to do the last 
than to provide for the first? It is known as well as any fact that 
education and crime are antagonistic. Why encourage the last and 
discourage the first? Why build penitentiaries and jails, and not 
Bchool-houscs? It is known that education dimishes crime. It is 
not known that penitentiaries reform criminals. Where is the profit 
to a State or county to lose a good citizen and support a villain? 

But a few words about our own State prison. There are now 
undergoing j^unisliment 7G8 persons convicted of crimes ranging 
from petty larceny to cold blooded murder. 

Ill reply to mj' inquiry as to the relative "number of educated and 
uneducated now in the prison, the present efficient Superintendent 
Bays: 

SuPERINTENnENT's OpFICEI TENNESSEE PeNITENTIART, ") 

March 11, 1872. j 
J. B. KiLLEBREW, Esq. : 

Sir: — Of the 768 convicts now confined in the Penitentiary 
of the State there are, 

Whites— Educated 57; No education 126; Total 223. 
Colored " 3; " " 542; " 545. 

11)0 v€68 '768 

Of the whites reported '-educated," perhaps one-half only read 
and write: about five of the number have been liberally educated. 
The tlu^ee colored reported educated, only read and write. 
Eespectfully, &c., 

JOEL A. BATTLE, 

Supt. of Prison. 

It has taxed the best i£?.tellcct in the State to devise a plan by 
which these criminals may be rendered sclf-S'Upporting. They are 



11 

said now to be so. Grant that it is so ; and that they make an 
amount sufficient over and above their support, to pay the interest 
on the money invested in buildings, &c., necessary to secure their 
contineraent. Still the question arises, How much does the State 
lose by 768 productive laborers being rendered unproductive? It 
loses according to the estimation of the best publicists $40 for each 
man annually. This sum would educate in public schools six times 
the number of inmates. Suppose one-half could by education have 
been prevented from committing crime (and the statistics from every 
country renders such a conjecture pi'obable) then the State has 
thrown away enough to ediicate just three times as many as arc in 
confinement. It has done more. It has exchanged for each one of 
those that might have been made a good citizen, with all the wealth 
and knowledge which-such an one might have accumulated, an ig- 
norant, vicious villain, a blight on the State and a disgrace to its 
civilization. 

The Board of Inspectors, in their report to the Governor, em- 
bracing a period from March 1, 1870, to September 1, 1871, say that 
the increase in crime and in the number of convicts in our State 
is very i^erceptible; and that the subject of how to apply prison 
labor is one for the most serious consideration. They ascribe this 
increase of crime to "want of knowledge, want of trade, want of 
work, want of assistance, want of parents, want of frien<is, want of 
intellect, want of moral training, combined with evil associations 
and influence." "Upon none," they continue^ "do these crime-pro- 
ducing wants fall with more certainty of evil effect than upon the 
young and inexperienced." I desire especially to direct your atten- 
tion to the causes of crime enumerated above, nearly every one of 
which could be removed by a judicious system of public schools and 
these young, neglected, ignorant children made useful citizens. 

The punishment of crime is a costly luxury. The amount paid 
for the prosecution and conviction of criminals out of the State 
Treasury for the year ending October 1, 1871, as shown by the Comp- 
troller's report, was $171,542 76. In this is not included damages 
done to properly, nor the loss of life, nor the countj' expenses nor, 
the extra police force demanded for the protection of life and proj)- 
erty ; nor the depreciation of morals in the community. Society is 
lowered by the pestilential presence of so many criminals ; the seeds 
of vice are scattered ; the public conscience is hardened, and evils 
from which there is no refuge sown broadcast over the State. !No 
one can estimate the injury done to a community by the encourage- 



12 

ment of pauperism and crime. It unsettles the very foundation of 
society, and transforms into curses what were designed as blessings. 
The members of the General Assembly, in their legislative capacity, 
should look seriously and earnestly to this question. In its magni- 
tude and influence it overshadows all others, for the object of all law 
is to benefit and protect the members of society both in their persons 
and property. Let them assume the responsibility and meet this 
question in a manner its importance deserves. Let this " flood of 
crime," that is rising and raging against the very battlements of 
the State be arrested. It is a great responsibility to levy a tnx to 
make useful men and women from this harvest of ignorant children 
in our State ; it is a still greater responsibility not to do it. Great 
actions imply and demand great responsibilities. 

There is another reason why our peoj^le should be aroused to the 
necesity of establishing a good system of public schools. It is always 
a matter of pai-amount importance to'the jarosperity of a State that 
its surplus lands should be occupied b}' an industrious, energetic, 
and intelligent population. We have in the State of Tennessee over 
29,000,000 acres of land, and only a little over 6,000,000 in cultiva- 
tion The remaining 23,000,000 are lying idle and contributing 
nothing to the State. It will hang a dead weight upon the pros- 
perit}' of the State, until it can be tilled or occupied by industrious 
citizens. Now, such men and women will not settle in a State that 
offers no facilities for education. Like seeks like. Noscitur ex sociis 
is a law as old humanity. Intelligent men and women will seek 
locations that supjily food to the mind, as well as aliment to the 
body. We may have an abundance of cheap lands; we may have 
inexhaustible stores of mineral wealth ; we may have a delightful 
climate, rich soil, and all the advantages that nature can give and 
still all these will never tempt the best class of immigrants — the 
class that will make good citizens and help by their intelligence and 
energy to develop the resources of the State, unless we give them 
the means of educating their children. We may inveigh against the 
principle of taxing one man to educate the children of another; we 
may declaim against the interference of the State in matters that 
concern directly the parents of children ; we may use all the thou- 
sand and one flimsy excuses that are made by men whose habits of 
thought have not led them to the investigation of this subject in its 
relation to the j)rosperity of a State, and yet this question will recur : 
how can we develop our great resources without an increase in the 
amount of skilled and intelligent labor, and how cau we procure 



13 

such lalior Avithotit showing our appreciation of intelligence bf sup- 
plying our people with the means of becoming so ? There is no way 
in which we can so soon be relieved of our taxes as by increasing 
on tax -payers. There is no way in which we can increase our tax- 
payers so surely as by offering inducements to intelligent men and 
women to come amongst us. One intelligent laborer will add, on an 
average at least twonty-five per cent more, annually, to the wealth 
of the State than an ignorant one. The per capita productive capa- 
city of each man, woman and child in the State of Massachusetts for 
the year 1856 is said to have been $166.60. For the same year in 
the State of Tennessee it was $63.10. That is, one person in the 
rigorous climate and poor soil of Massachusetts makes neaily three 
times as much as one in the rich fields and genial climate of our own 
State. There are 1,258,520 persons in the State of Tennessee. The 
aiiMial aggregate per capita j)roduction of all this number falls 
short of what it would be in the State of Massachusetts, if the above 
statement is true, by $180,255,820 — a sum equal in value to one 
half of the improved farms in the State. And this because the 
labor of our State cannot utilize the powers of nature. No wonder 
that the gigantic intellect of Mr. Adams should have discerned the 
truth that the public schools of New England are more important 
even to the rich themselves than all their riches. The same senti- 
ment was reiterated by Mr. Webster, who also regarded public 
instruction as a wise and liberal system of police, by which prop- 
erty and life, and the peace of society are secured. 

'ihe greatest obstacle to be overcome in the establishment of a 
system of public instruction in our State is the inherited idea that 
education should be left to private enterj)ri8e, and that property 
should not be taxed to educate those without means ; that it is 
neither consonent with justice nor demanded by charity ; that the 
father of a child should be compelled to educate him, and that it is 
an encouragement to idleness, and has a tendency to impair or de- 
sti ;«• t:i.' sense of obligation in the minds of parents as to the duty 
of educating their children. 

The argument that it should be left to private enterprise goes too 
far. It would apply to matters of police; to the establishment of 
courts of justice; to the erection of jails and penitentiaries; and to 
the workings of the highways. All these are established for the 
protection or convenience of property. Society calls upon the poor 
man to contribute as much to keep the highways in order, though 
he may own nothing, as him who runs long wagon trains. The poor 



14 

man contributes his money to support courts of justice, though he 
may have no property to protect. He is the man who is first drafted 
into the army to protect property. He has no money to pay to re- 
lievo him from the burdens and hardships of protecting money. 
Upon him and upon his valor rest, in the^ main, the fame and glory 
of the nation. Education will make him a better soldier. This was 
well shown in the recent war between France and Germany, in 
which the discipline of the German troops, acquired through a long 
course of training in the public schools, was more than a match for 
the French. 

Dr. L. P. Brockctt, author of a History of the Franco-German 
war of 1870-71, in reviewing the condition of the two countries en- 
gaged, at the outset says : 

"In Germany, and especially in Prussia education is well-nigh 
universal. The population of the North German Confederation, in 
1867, was 29,653,038, and that of South Germany 8,809,328: making 
a total of 38,522,366. Of this population only an infinitesimal pro- 
portion are unable to read and write, while the greater part have a 
good public school education. 

"The great advantages of this thorough education have made 
themselves visible in the improved social condition and greater in- 
telligence of the masses, and have made them vastl}'' better soldiers 
in a cause where their patriotic feelings are enlisted. It has resulted 
too, in a larger measure of thrift and business enterprise throughout 
the whole of Germany. Nearly every town has its thriving manu- 
factory. 

"The social condition of France is not so good. The wealth, in- 
telligence, and business activity of the country, and to a large extent 
its poverty and crime, also, have been concentrated in Paris, and 
two or three other large cities. Education is very much neglected. 
Thirty pi.'r cent, of the conscripts (who represent very fullj^ the 
male adult population of France) cannot read or write. The school 
age of children is only from seven to thirteen, and nearly a million, 
or about one-fifth of the entire number of children between these 
ages, do not attend school. Morals, as is well known, are at a very 
low ebb. One-eighth of the births (taking city and country together,) 
are known to be illegitimate, and a still larger proportion are con- 
cealed by infanticide, which is so prevalent as to make the per cent- 
age of increase of population in France smaller than that of any 
other European state " 

As an instrument, then, for the protection of property, property 



15 

should look to it that it is made as effective as possible. Nearly all the 
machinery of government is for the protection of property, and if the 
subject of education is to be left to private enterprise, why not leave 
the j)rotection of property to private enterprise also? Besides, the 
poor boy who derives an education from public schools is not bene- 
fitted more than pi'operty. "Wherever good public schools prevail prop- 
erty increases in value ; rents go up ; labor can be procured at cheaper 
rates by reason of other inducements ottered to the laborers. This 
was strikingly illustrated in the county of Montgomery while her pub- 
lic schools were in operation. Laborers for farm work, men, hired for 
S150 per annum in that county, while the adjoining counties in 
Kentucky had to pay $175. The farmers of Montgomery .-avcd on 
each man $25 per annum, because they oflfercd educational facilities 
for the children of the laborer, which more than repaid all the taxes 
assessed for school purposes. But the benefits are greater than these. 
The amount paid for education may. as a general rule, be deducted 
from the amount paid for crime, at the same time the improvement 
in society adds vastly to the value of property. It is entirely just, 
therefore, that property should be taxed to educate the ignorant, 
because this education gives security to it, and increases its value 
much more than property is required to pay in behalf of education. 
As to the question of lessening the sense of obligation in the mind 
of the parent of educating his child, we agree with the Princeton 
Review for 1866. The fact is exactly the contrary. Those commu- 
nities in which there are no common schools, and in which the people 
generally are in a state of deplorable ignorance, are precisely those 
in which the sense of parental obligation on this point is at its low- 
est ebb. Go to a region of country, in which not one man in ten 
can read and write, and you. will find that not ane man in ten will 
care whether hi:^ children are taught to read and Avrite. Those com- 
munities, on the contrary, which have the best and most complete 
system of common schools, and in which this system has prevailed 
longest, and has taken most complete hold of the public mind, are 
the very ones in which individuals will be found most keenly alive 
to the importance of the subject, and in which a parent will be re- 
garded as a monster if his children are allowed to grow up unedu- 
cated. 

' The truth is, the duties of the parent and of society in this respect 
lie in coincident lines, and each should, as far as possible, provide 
for the intellectual development and moral training, of the child. 
Assuredly, however, should the parent not be able to provide for 



16 

these wants, the society which is to be cursed or blessed by it should 
look to it. Its highest interests demand it. A community is as 
much to blame, and has as much to suffer, as the parent, by allow- 
ing a child to grow up in ignorance, stupidity and vice, and should 
therefore, provide against such a calamity by seeing that all children 
are instructed in the elements of " learning, virtue and science." 

It is nothing to the discredit of education that some men triumph 
in life without it. Their success depends in such a case on their in. 
domitable will, their caculating sagacity, and their superior natural 
abilities. Had such men been educated, they might have reached 
much higher positions, or reached the positions they attained in a 
much shorter time. Education does not supply brain ; it only makes 
the greatest possible use of it. 

But as a matter of economy to the aggregated people of the State 
the law should provide a system of public instruction. It is demon- 
etrable that three times as many children may be instructed in pub- 
lic schools for the same money as in private schools. The whole 
outlay by the State of Tennessee for public instruction, in 1868, was 
$573,785.74. During the same year 185,845 children attended schools 
for the space of five months, which gives the cost for the tuition of each 
child, $3.08. In private schools it was at least three times as high, so 
that had these children been compelled to go to private schools they 
could only have gone one and two thirds months. The same thing 
is witnessed to-day in Nashville, as I am informed by the Hon. S. 
Y. Caldwell, the Superintendent of City Schools. The cost of send- 
ing a child to the high schools being just one-third the amount re- 
quired to send him to a private school of the same grade. If this 
be so, of which there is no doubt, it will be seen that the commu- 
nity in the aggregate, by establishing public schools, can gave two- 
thirds of the amount required to be expended in private schools, and 
enjoy the same amount of intellectual cultivation for the children. 
This results from a more corajjlete systematizing of all the operations 
of the schools, having all the scholars properly classified, so that one 
teacher may instruct a much larger number, and do it more efii- 
ciently. 

From advance sheets of the ninth census, it appears that the num- 
ber of illiterate persons in the State of Tennessee, adult and minor, 
ten years old and over, (Chinese and Indians excluded) is 364,668, of 
whom 138,955 are between the ages of ten and twenty-one years 
old • the remainder 225,713 twenty-one years old and over. Of 
the adults, there are of white males, 37,713 ; colored, 55,927 ; 



17 

aggregating 93,640 male adults, who are unable to read and write, 
and yet whose votes are as potential for good or evil as those 
of the wisest men in the State. The total vote cast at the last 
Gubernatorial election was $120,479, and yet ignorance had the 
power of casting 93,640 of those. The bare statement of these facts 
is alarming. It shows upon what a precarious and unstable founda- 
tion the highest interests of our State rest. 

There are 68,825 white women in the State who can neither read 
nor write, and 63,248 colored, making in all of illiterate women, 
132,073. 

But it is for the children that we feel the deepest solicitude. Thera 
are 72,189 white children between the ages of 10 and 21, who can 
neither read nor write, and 66,766 colored. It may safely be assumed 
that a large proportion of the white children have been made or- 
phans by the results of the war. Their natural protectors have 
laid down their lives in the defence, as they honestly believed and 
felt, of the rights of property. Shall property now hesitate to edu- 
cate thes'^ children and make them useful members of that society 
which the valor of their fathers illustrated and defended? What- 
ever may be said of others, these orphans, at least, should be liberally 
educated by the property of the State. 

There is another lamentable fact deducible from the census of 
1870. It is that while the white population has increased but 13 per 
cent., the increase in'the number of white illiterates has been 50 per 
cent. The white population has increased from 826,722 to 936,119. 
The number of illiterates among the adults has increased from 
71,114 to 106,538. And this illiteracy is to-day increasing in a 
greater ratio. Ten years without schools, and the necessity which 
has compelled many of the white people to perform manual labor, 
have not served to intensify their desire for education. There have 
been fewer good schools in the rural districts during the last decade 
than was ever known in the '^tate in proportion to the population. 

The discouragements to every branch of industry which the war 
occasioned, fell heaviest upon the teachers' vocation. And the pol- 
icy pursued by the State has been, in the main, detrimental to the 
cause of education. Public schools are unpopular because they have 
been, with few exceptions, totally inefficiient The constant changes 
which have been wrought in our school systems by nearly every 
legislative body that has met, have created in the public mind a 
sense of their inconstancy, instability and inefficiency. They have 
not only failed to supply a much felt necessity in every community' 
2 



18 

but the parsimonious appropriations have just been sufficient to in- 
terfere with, and, in a measure, break down all private enterprises. 
The amounts distributed to each county have been totally inade- 
quate to accomplish any good. The commissioners, in many cases, 
to relieve themselves of any responsibility, would employ a few 
peripatetic teachers wholly unfit, oftentimes, for the duties devolv- 
ing upon them, and suffer them to teach until the funds were ex- 
hausted, when the announcement would be made that the schools 
would be suspended until the following year, when they would be 
resumed for one or two months more. 

And these have been the facilities offered by the great Slate of 
Tennessee for the education of her children. The question arises 
whether these facilities are to be improved, or whether Tennessee 
is to remain stationary while the sea of thought and intelligence is 
whirling around her. To do so will be to attract within her borders 
all the slime, and draff, and offal that fester and float upon the sur- 
face of society. Our working men have less interest in the matter 
than our men of property. They are not anchored to the soil. It 
jB an easy matter for them to fly to other States that promise educa- 
tional advantages. And there they will go with their muscle and 
their energy, seeking a home of fresher activities and brighter pros- 
pects, unless equal inducements are offered here. The report of the 
Commissioner of Education for the year 1871, ^will show that all the 
States surrounding Tennessee, with the except'fbn of North Carolina 
are making energetic and well directed efforts to build up good sys- 
tems of public instruction. All those States have able, energetic 
and thoroughly competent State Superintendents, who are working 
with a will to infuse new vitality in their educational systems. The 
fact is clearly recognized "that education must underlie every per- 
manent improvement in the State, whether material, social or civil." 

It may be well, perhaps, in this connection, to mention the Edu- 
cational Bill that has just passed the House of Eepresentatives of 
the Congress of the United States. Whatever opinions may be ea- 
tertained as to the abstract merits of the bill, should it become a law, 
as it is almost certain to do, Tennessee must take steps to secure her 
share of the distribution, or be taxed for the benefit of others. If, 
as has been argued, the Bill is only an artfully devised scheme for 
imposing a new tax upon the country in the name of education, we 
certainly must accept the situation, and provide for securing our 
pro rata. This bill provides that the net proceeds of the public 
lands shall forever be consecrated and set apart for the education of 



19 

the people. It requires, however, before the States or Territories 
siuill receive any portion of the fund that shall arise from the sale 
of public lands, that each one shall, by its legislature, provide by 
law for the free education of all its children between the ages of 
six and sixteen, and shall apply all moneys which it shall receive, 
under the act, in accordance with its conditions. It also requires 
that an annual report be made. The law further provides that the 
distribution for the first ten years shall be among the several States 
and Territories, including the District of Columbia, in the ratio of 
the illiteracy of their respective populations. It also makes condi- 
tion that no moneys belonging to any State or Territory, under this 
Act, shall be withheld from any State or Territor}^ for the reason 
that the laws thereof provide for separate schools for white children 
or black children, or refuse to organize a system of mixed schools. 
Under this Act, should it become a law by the action of the Senate, 
the State of Tennessee will receive about $130,000. This added to 
the sura at present realized from the tax on polls, all escheated prop- 
erty, and all gifts of property to the State, the personal effects of 
intestates having no kindred, and the interest on the school fund 
of 1^1,500,000, will give a sum which, if supplemented by a small 
tax, will enable the people of the State to maintain a very respect- 
able school system. 

It is ray deliberate judgment, however, that this additional tax 
■will have to be levied ultimately by the Legislature, if a sufficiency 
of money is ever raised to establish schools of a high character and 
real merit. It has been shown that while the white population for 
the last decade has increased but 13 per cent., ignorance has been 
increasing among that population at the rate of 50 per cent. It is 
hardly probable, therefore, that the great mass of voters in the 
State will, without schools, become any more intelligent than at 
present; and the exertion of a community to secure schools dimin- 
ishes just as the intelligence of the community decreases. In other 
words, the tendency of ignorance is to perpetuate itself, while intel- 
ligence seeks for new fields of thought and new means of diffusing 
itself. 

I regret to have to I'eport that there is yet, in some localities, a 
strong feeling against levying a school tax, because the negroes will 
be made partakers of its benefit!?. It is not well for a community, 
or an individual to suffer prejudice to drive them in opposition to 
their best interest, and highest duties. The pi'oblera presented is 
one of the gravest nature, and should command our most sei-ious 



20 

and careful consideration. By a decree of Providence the negro is 
here with us, subject to the same laws, and entitled to the same 
privileges by law. That he can be made a useful laborer and a 
qniet, peaceable citizen, no one who is acquainted with his character 
can doubt. His attachment to the plaee of his birth is marvellous, 
and the most powerful influences brought to bear upon him by cor- 
rupt and designing politicians were nut able, with but few excep- 
tions, to destroy the confidence he bad in the honesty and uprightness 
of his former owner. If his labor can be irajsroved ; if it can be made 
more profitable to himself, his employer, and the State, the highest 
considerations of duty, charity, benevolence and patriotism demand 
that it be done. Intelligence multiplies results even in the brute. A 
horse, for example, trained to walk straight forward to stakes in lay- 
ing off rows for the planting of corn can do a third more work in a 
day, and do it better, than one not so trained or educated. A team 
that has been disciplined can draw a far heavier load than one un- 
trained. Every fanner knows that the value of his laborer depends, 
other things being equal, upon the degree of his intelligence. Up to 
a certain point there can be no question as to the advantages to the 
employer to be derived from the education of the laborer. An edu- 
cated man can achieve greater material results than an ignorant one. 
Says the Princeton Review, in discussing this question, "some curious 
and instructive facts were collected a few years ago by Horace Mann 
in regard to this matter. His inquiries were directed to the efficiency 
of operatives in factories, a class of men who would seem to require 
as little general intelligence as any kind of laborers. It was found that, 
as a general rule, these operatives who could sign their names to their 
weekly receipts, wei'e able to do one-third more work, and do it bet- 
ter than those who made their mark. Nor is this at all to be won- 
dered at. There is no kind of work done by the aid of human 
muscle that is purely mechanical. Mind is partner in all that the 
body does. Mind directs and controls muscle, and even in emer- 
gency gives it additional energy and power. No matter how simple 
the pi'ocess in which an operative may be engaged, some cultivation 
of his mental power is needed. Without it he misdirects his own 
movements, and mistakes continually the orders of his superintend- 
ing workman. A boy, who has been to a good common school, and 
has had his mental activities quickened, and when mind has been 
stimulated and roused by worthj?- motives, not only will be more in- 
dustrious for it, when he becomes a man, but his industry will be 
more effective. He will accomplish more even as a day laborer than 



21 

the mere ij^norant boor. When we come to any kind of skilled 
labor, the dilTercnce between the educated and the ignorant is still 
more apparent. An intelligent mechanic is worth twice as much as 
one ignorant and stupid." 

These observations of Mr. Mann is confirmed by the experience 
of the Superintendent of the cotton factory which has recently gone 
into operation in Nashville. Col. Sam. D. Morgan says the opera- 
tives which he has gathered from the population of Nashville, are 
pronounced by his subordinate superintendents the most efficient 
that they have ever known after a long experience, and to the com- 
mon schools of Nashville, which these persons had the benefit of, he 
ascribes their superioritj'' as operatives. 

Education, by diffusing knowledge and stimulating thought, mul- 
tiplies invention, and so increases the producing power of a people; 
Any invention that doubles the product of labor is a benefit to the 
whole community. Many labor-saving inventions are so siraj^le that 
they are never patented, and yet they are valuable. 

A very instructive case, where intelligence was applied to the 
or<linary operations on the farm came under my own observation. 
A young, sprightly negro man, who had received the rudiments of 
an education, was required to clear the leaves from a piece of wood- 
land preparatory to the sowing of grass. He ingeniously constructed) 
in a few minutes, an apparatus resembling somewhat a hay rake, 
with which he performed the labor of two or three hands in clearing 
away the leaves, and at the same time scratched the land for the 
better reception of the seed. When asked where he had seen such 
an appai'atus, he replied, " I never saw one before — I just thought it 
out." 

The Hon. Wm. H. Ruffner, the able Superintendent of Public In- 
struction for the State of Virginia, in his First Annual Eeport dis- 
cusses this question in its economical light with great power and 
ability, and I cannot do better than to appropriate his argument, 
and make it applicable to the State of Tennessee. 

Every person in his normal condition has a certain intrinsic value 
to the State, and publicists have long been trying to determine what 
that average value is. The public value of a common laborer has 
been commonly placed at $1,000. Mr. Young, the Chief of the Bu- 
reau of Statistics, shows by conclusive reasoning that |800 is nearer 
the true value. This supposes the man to be worth that sum over 
and above the support of a wife and two children. The value of a 
man, says Mr. KufFner, being his productive power, minus his run- 



22 

ning expenses, of course the average is affected by his degree of 
skill and power, and by evei'y thing that enters into his physical, 
moral and mental character. If a man, with a wife and two chil- 
dren, can earn $400 a year, and pay expenses, and then leaves a 
profit of $4:0, he will be worth $800, for S40 capitalized at 5 per cent, 
gives $800 Our negro men do not earn so much, but take the num- 
ber to be 50,000, at that rate they are worth $40,000,000. Whatever 
amount be assumed as the value, :. very slight change in their aver- 
age character produces a large result in the increase or diminution 
in the wealth of the State. If the avei*age value be reduced to $000, 
the wealth of the State is reduced by $10,000,000. If the average 
could be raised to $1,000, $10,000,000 would bo added to the wealth 
of the State. Now take the annual income. If each laborer adds 
$40 to the wealth of the State, 50,000 will add $2,000,000. Now, 
suppose he could be made to earn $10 additional, a sum would be 
realized nearly equal in amount to the largest expenditure ever 
made in one year in this State for school purposes. By increasing 
or diminishing the productive capacity of the laboring population, 
the annual growth or wealth of the State is powerfully affected. 

Collecting the testimonies as to the addition made to the efficiency 
of labor by education, it is found that 25 per cent at least is sup- 
posed to be added by that means, and this without taking into 
account the constantly increasing value of that class that rises above 
the existing condition. If the negro is not an exception to this rule, 
$8,000,000 would be added directly to the State, and $500 000 to their 
gross annual product by education, to say nothing of what would 
be added indirectly. As the laborers increase in value, every thing 
that depends on labor rises in proportion — lands, mines, water 
power, &c., &c. 

Another view: If there are no schools in the countiy, while 
schools are kept up in towns, farm labor will become scarce and dear, 
and the profits of the farming community will be proportionately 
decreased. The most worthless, those who do not value edu- 
cation will constitute the only available labor for the farm. Let 
school houses be erected in every part of the country, and the amount 
saved in the price of labor will pay a large school tax every year 
to say nothing of the increased contentment and efficiency of the 
laborer. Admit, for the sake of argument, that the negro is imbe- 
cile, and cannot be improved intellectually, still it will be a profit- 
able investment to gratif}^ his inclinations and laudable ambition to 
see his children enjoying the 'privileges of attending schools. To 



23 

show that these views are not altogethei- theoretical, reference is 
made to the statements, in another part of this report, in relation to 
the prices paid by the farmers in Montgomery county, and those 
paid by the farmers in the adjoining counties in Kentucky. There 
are about 2,000 of these laborers in the county of Montgomery. A 
saving of twenty-five dollars on each would give the sum of S50,000, 
a sura four times as great as the amount collected in that county for 
school purposes. Here, by the investment of $12,500, a clear gain 
of ^37,500 is made. This only applies to the saving in fiirm labor, 
but there is a corresponding reduction in the prices for house 
servants, cooks, carriage drivers, &c. So that it will be seen that as 
an investment the levying of a school tax, and the keeping up of 
schools for that class of our population pays a very large dividend. 

Education has become absolutely indispensable to the material 
prosperity of any community. The machines which are now in 
common use on the farm, in the workshop, by the fireside, on the 
streams, on the ocean, presuppose some knowledge of methanics in 
order to operate them. More cultivation of intellect is required to 
manage a reaper, or a thresher than to use the sickle, or to beat out 
grain with a flail. And as the introduction of machinery into the 
operations of the farm is becoming more general each year, so a 
larger degree of intelligence is constantly demanded there. The 
senseless exercise of muscle cannot compete with the precision and 
intelligent action of machinery. Bach succeeding year will show a 
diminished demand for ignorant labor and an increased inquiry for 
skilled labor. The highest interest of the State, then, demands a 
recognition of this fact, and the adoption of some measures by 
which the laborer may bo instructed in the higher requirements of 
the farm, for all the experience of this country goes to prove that it 
is more economical to employ intelligent labor and use machinery 
than dispense with machinery and use ignorant labor. The pro- 
duction of cotton since the invention of the cotton gin, the in- 
creased production of wheat since the invention of the reaper, 
are cases in point; and so far from machinery reducing the average 
price of labor, the producing power of a day's labor is greater 
now than it ever has been ; employment is moi*e constant ; sales 
of agricultural products more certain; and a gradual elevation 
of the laborer in the scale of dignity and intelligence more decided 
where machinei'y is used and the laborer is educated. Indeed it 
may be affirmed that sailors, mechanics, seamstresses, and all classes 
who live by manual labor, as well as farmers, are compelled to have 



24 

more knowledge now than a half century ago. An ignorant people 
in this age are compelled by an inexorable law to be poor. No rich- 
ness of soil, no radiance of the sky, no commercial facilities, no 
mineral wealth, can confer greatness and honor on a people inca- 
pacited by ignorance. It has been well said that whatever wealth 
is showered upon such a people will run to waste. " The ignorant 
pearl divers do not wear the pearls they win. The diamond hunters 
are not ornamented by the gems they find. The miners for silver 
and gold are not enriched by the precious metals they dig. Those 
who till the most luxuriant soils are not filled with the harvests 
they gather. All the choicest productiens of the earth, whether 
mineral or vegetable, wherever found, or wherever gathered, will in 
a short time, as by some secret and resistless attraction, make their 
way into the hands of the more intelligent. Let whoever will sow 
the seed, or gather the fruit, intelligence will consume the banquet." 
Grive education, and you give the keys to unlock the treasures of 
the world. Nothing desirable in the depths of the ocean, or in the 
bowels of the earth, or in the atmosphere above, but can be obtained 
by its aid. New agencies and new powers of nature are harnessed, 
and made to do the biddings of man. Eefuse education and 3'ou 
refuse every thing — social elevation, moral grandeur, civil and reli- 
gious liberty, virtue, integrity and power, and good government. 
Deny it, and there is no other "open sesame" under heaven to open 
the doors of the varied wealth of the universe. Man becomes bui 
an instinctive brute, toiling to live, and living only to die. His in- 
tellect is darkened with a cloud more threatening than that rifted 
by the thunderbolt ; more terrible than that which surrounds the 
apex of a burning volcano, and more disastrous than the whirlwind; 
for it is the cloud of ignorance that shuts out all the lights of civili- 
zation, of the treasures of science, and the blessings of rational ex- 
istence. 

To sum up, then : A large amount necessary to educate the chil- 
dren of the State could be deducted from the amount now expended 
for crime. A large amount, if not all, could be gained by increasing 
the average productive capacity of the population. A large amount 
could be saved by the increased security given to property. An 
equivalent could be added by the benefits rendered society in its eleva- 
tion, and in the increased rational enjoyments which a judicious sys- 
tem of education would insure. To this might be added the worth to 
the community of eveiy intelligent man and woman that would be 
attracted to the State ; the enhancement of the j^rice of property 



25 

consequent thereupon ; the utilization of the forces of nature through, 
the agency of such a population; the cultivation of those qualities 
of honesty, honor, courage and gallantry that distinguish the civil- 
ized from the savage, the boor from the gentleman, the Chri&tian from 
the heathen. Such a system of public instruction will make our 
State attx-active. It will revive patriotism by enlisting the affections 
and sympathies and pride of the citizen. "To make us love onr 
countr}^," says Burke, "we must make our country lovely." And 
to epitomize and appropriate another sentiment of this great English 
statesman and scholar, good education subdues the fierceness of 
pride and power ; it obliges rulers to submit to the soft collar of 
social esteem; it compels stern authority to submit to elegance ; it 
ennobles whatever it touches, and strips vice of half its evil by de- 
stroying all its grossness. 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 

The short time that I have held my present position, and the hur- 
ried manner in which this report has been prepared, make it mani- 
festly improper that I should suggest any sweeping changes in the 
present system. It must be evident, however, to any one who will 
examine the reports f/om the various counties, hereto appended, 
that the system as it at present exists is utterly devoid of vitality, 
and is wholly unsui'^ed for the accomplishment of the great pur- 
poses of education. The objections to it are the want of suitable 
provisions to secure : 

First. Unity of action throughout the State ; 

Second. The creation of a livelier interest among the people of 
the State in educational matters; 

TJiird. A larger amount of energy in the system; 

Fourth. More frequent and more reliable statistics from each 
county. 

As to the best methods of securing these desirable ends, it would 
perhaps be better to refer the whole subject to the wisdom of our 
present Legislature, but I will venture to suggest two recommenda- 
tions which the friends of education throughout the State agree to 
be necessary. 

1. The appointment of a competent State Superintendent, with a 
salar}^ sufficient to enable him to devote his whole time and ability to 
the following: 

First. The creation of a sentiment in the State favorable to public 
education ; and 



26 

Second. To the building up, as that feeling increases, of an effect- 
ive school system. 

Without such an officer the whole county system will prove a stu- 
pendous ftxilure, to the lasting injury and deep disgrace of the 
present generation. 

2. Provision for the appointment of a Superintendent in each 
county fis schools are organized. The duties of such an officer should 
be precisely for the school districts what the duties of the State 
officer should be for the counties. He should travel from district to 
district, encouraging the friends of schools by keeping them in- 
formed as to the progress of schools in other counties, by supplying 
them with facts in reference to school management a^nd school laws. 
He should stimulate the people to build good school-houses, to send 
their children to the schools. He should also endeavor to create a 
feeling of pride and emulation among the School Commissioners in 
the various districts, and, indeed, do everytning necessary to carry 
out the purposes of the law. And in order that he may do this, he 
should be paid a libei'al salary, and clothed with sufficient powers. 
Much of this power is now vested in the County Board of Educa- 
tion. This for celerity of action is too unwieldy. As the law 
makes no provision for the payment of the Commissioners for their 
services, it is difficult to get a sufficient number together in the 
Board to form a quorum. It requires too long a time to act, 
and when it does act, it is generally with a divided senti- 
ment among the members. Its decrees are therefore but feebly 
executed. The sense of rcsponsibilty is divided and destro3'ed on 
such a body, and the voice of praise or censure is alike unheeded. 
No scope is given to individual ambition. The work demanded to 
be done is great, but the remuneration is small. Far better would 
it be- to concentrate the responsibility and power into the hands of 
a competent Superintendent, and demand of him certain specific 
duties to be promptly and faithfully discharged. 

Until a better feeling in regard to public schools is established, it 
would perhaps be well to permit the County Superintendents to 
appoint the Commissioners in each district. There are some good 
reasons for suggesting this course: first, the people are so apathetic 
and indifferent about schools that it is difficult to get them to hold 
an election for Commissioners ; and second when Commissioners are 
elected, they are usually satisfied with the honor bestowed, and if 
they serve at all, serve but poorly. Sometimes, however, they are 



27 

in antagonism to the school interest, and work to defeat it at the 
next election. Either apathy or ill-will is generally the result of 
such an election. If the Superintendent had the power to appoint 
them, the whole county could be more rapidl}^ organized ; the best 
men could be selected for the position, and if one refused to serve, 
another could be appointed without going through the expense and 
farce of an election, and a more harmonious working and develop- 
ment of the sj-stem could be secured. The Superintendent should 
be elected by the people, because his position is, or should be one of 
honor and profit. Not so with the Commissioners. Their work ia 
laborious They must or should feel a deep interest upon the sub- 
ject of schools, and the best men should be selected for that position 
— men who will work for the good of the cause, and who will feel 
the heavy responsibility resting upon them. These Commissioners 
should visit every family and present to their consideration the im- 
portance of the subject to their individual prosperity. In short, the 
whole labor of building up public schools should be sytematized by 
regarding the county as the unit in the work of the State Superin- 
tendent ; and the school district as the unit in the work of the 
Count}^ Superintendent; and the family as the unit in the work of 
the Commissioners. 

The meagerness of the reports given is sufficient to convince any 
one that some other method should be devised to collect the scho- 
lastic statistics of the counties. The Clerks of the County Coui'ts 
have duties enough to perform, and no one could do the work as- 
signed them so well as a County Superintendent, who in going from 
district to district, encouraging the schools and stimulating the citi- 
zens, could perform this duty more effectually. The business of 
education must be stimulated. It must not be left as other things 
to the laws of trade. Those who most need its benefits and civili- 
zing influences are precisely those who take the least interest 
in, and feel the least need of it. Unlike hunger or cold, it 
does not force itself upon the attention, but is none the less needful 
for all that. Casjjer Hauser, who spent his life in darkness and 
silence, could conceive of no higher pleasures than he enjoyed until 
the glories of the external world were revealed to his gaze. These 
glories existed, notwithstanding his ignorance. Man must be lifted 
up to the higher enjoyments of life. His own debased nature will 
never direct him upward. A fearful responsibility rests upon every 
community that fails to apply those means for the removal of igno- 
rance, with its concomitant vices, stupidity and superstition and 



28 

vagabondism, that experience proves to be best and shows to be 
necessary. Let us hope, sir, that ere long Tennessee will take a 
Btep in this matter that will reveal to the world the transcendent 
brightness of the intellects of her sons and daughters. Let us hope 
that her action in the matter may bo such as to command the re- 
spect, and awaken the gratitude, and secure the admiration of pos- 
terity. 

Eespectfully submitted, 

J. B. KILLEBREW, 
Assistant State Superintendent. 



REPORTS FRIM COUNTIES. 



The following enquires were directed to the Clerks of the various 
County Courts : 

Ist. Has your County voted a tax for support of Schools? and if 
80, the amount? 

2d. Have Commissioners been elected? 

8d. How many Schools (white and colored) are in operation ? 

4th. During how many months, yearly, can they be kept open? 

5th. About how many pupils are enrolled? 

6th. Has the scholastic population been reported to you ? If so, 
what is it? 

To which the following answers were returned : 

ANDERSON. 

No tax has been voted; no commissioners elected; no schools in 
operation; no enrollment of pupils and no report of the scholastic 
population. 

BEDFORD. 

An election was held in this county on the first Saturday in March 
to take the sense of the voters as to levying a tax for school pur- 
poses. The proposition to levy such a tax was voted down. Yery 
few votes were cast, only 726 out of the 4113 in the county. The 
majority against the tax was 132. 

BENTON. 

No report. 



30 

BLEDSOE. 

This county voted a tax in 1871 of 3 cents on the hundred dollars 
worth of property, and 25 cents on the poll. The whole amount 
realized is only 1707 00, a sum too small to effect much good. At the 
January Term, 1872, the Court voted a tax of 5 cents on the §100, 
and 25 cents on polls. Commissioners have been elected, but no 
schools are in operation, the amount of money being sufficient only 
to keep the schools ojDen fiom one to two months- in the year. 

The scholastic population amounted at the last report to 1,524, of 
whom 212 were colored, and 1,312 white. 

BLOUNT. 

The question of taxation for schools was submitted to the people 
on the first Saturday in March, and lost by 87 majority. 

BEADLEY. 

The schools were organized in this county on the last of March, 
1871, and reports from private sources inform us that the schools arc 
doing well in every part of the county. Aid has been procured 
from the Peabody Fund for many of the schools. There is a graded 
school at Cleveland, which is represented as being in a healthy con- 
dition. It was organized four years ago, and in discipline, classifi- 
cation and arrangement, is rapidly reaching a high standard. 

A tax of twenty cents on the $100 was levied for the year 1871, 
and commissioners have been elected in every district. There are 
forty schools in operation. Eight of those schools are kept open for 
ten months, and the remaining ones from three to five months. 

The scholastic population is reported by commissioners to be 
3,479, of whom 582 are colored. It is thought, however, that an 
error was made in taking the population, and that it will amount 
fully to 5,000. 

It is thought that with a little encouragement the county can be 
made to take a very high stand in the great work. 

CAMPBELL. 
See Appendix. 

CANNON. 

The County Court has levied a tax of 15 cerfts on the $100, for 
school purposes, for the year 1872. 



31 

Commissioners have been elected in all the districts. 

The schools are suspended for the present for want of means. 
About forty were kept up for two months during the year 1871. 

The number enrolled was 8,281. The number of each race is not 
given, 

CEOCKETT. 

No report. 

CAEROLL. 

The proposition to levy a tax for common schools was overwhelm- 
ingly defeated at the election on "Saturday, the 2d of March. The 
reasons for this result are found mainly in the fact that our school 
laws are generally regai'ded there as being fatally defective, insomuch 
that the school tax, if collected and consumed under our present 
system, could be productive of but little benefit. 

CAETER. 

This county has voted a tax of twenty cents for the support of 
schools for the year 1872. Commissioners have not been elected in 
all the districts. No answers to the other questions. 

CHEATHAM. 

The proposition to levy a county tax for schools was lost by only 
25 votes, on the first Saturday of March. Gi'eat exer|rions were 
used by auti -school men. 

CLAIBOENE. 

No report. 

CLAY. 

No report. 

COCKE. 

Nothing has been done, except to elect a few Commissioners. The 
most influential citizens oppose jDublic instruction, and the prospect 
is rather gloomy for the establishment of schools. 

COFFEE. 

The County Court voted a tax of 50 cents on each poll for educa- 
tional purposes for the year 1871, and Commissioners were elected 



32 

in all the districts. One school in each district was taught for five 
months. There are 3,079 whites and 434 blacks; in all 3513, that 
constitute the scholastic population. The number of enrolled pupils 
has never been returned. 

CUMBERLAND. 

No report. 

DAVIDSON. 

The following report has been received : 

Nashville, March 8, 1872. 
Dr. W. Morrow: 

Dear Sir: In reply to your inquiries with reference to the 
Public Schools of Davidson county, I have to report, that our County 
Court levies a tax of two mills on property, and one-half mill on 
privileges, for school purposes, which aggregates annual!}^ a fund of 
about .S90,000 ; that the Commissioners are regularly elected from 
ever}' civil district, constituting a Board of Education for the county 
and that I am at present the County Superintendent. 

There are 91 white and 28 colored, total 119 schools in operation. 
They are open in the country districts nine months in the year, and 
in the first and seventeenth districts ten months. The total number 
enrolled is 6,640, and the scholastic population of the county is 
17,725. 

The first and seventeenth districts levy a tax in addition to the 
above, and have control of their educational interests under a sepa- 
rate organization — Boards of Education and Superintendents. I 
have not the report from the latter at hand, but append below a 
condensed statement from the Superintendent of First District. 
Respectfully, SAME DONELSON, 

County Superintendent. 



Dr. W. Morrow : 

Bear Sir : Nashville established a system of public schools 
in 1852, and supported them by a municipal tax, almost entirely, until 
the present school law took effect. We now receive from the County 
Trustee about ^25,000 annually, and by a levy of two mills on prop- 
erty, and one-fourth mill on privileges, and from pollw, raise about 
$30,000 more; making our yearly expenditures about $55,000. Our 
Board of Education consists of nine members, three of whom are 



33 

elected yearly, and the Superintendent, as their executive officer, 
directs and controls the schools. 

We have 7 colored and 25 white schools in operation, or a total of 
32. The session is for ten months annually. The number enrolled 
is 3,159. The scholastic population is 6,782. 

The averao-e number belonging for the last year was 2.475 

Average number daily attending 2,326 

Number of teachers emjjloyed ' GO 

Average number of pupils in private schools last year 800 

I regret that the haste with which this memorandum is made pre- 
vents my giving you a more detailed report. 

Most respectfully, your ob't s'v't, 

S. Y. CALDWELL, Superintendent. 
ISTashville, March 5, 1872. 

DECATUE. 

A tax of 20 cents on the ^100 has recently been voted by a large 
majority. Ten or twelve schools for the white children were in 
operation for three or four months during the year 1871, but none 
for the colored children. About 300 pupils attended the white 
schools. 

The scholastic population amounts 2,453, of whom 229 are colored 

DE KALB. 

The Magistrates voted a tax of 15 cents on the $100, and half the 
amount of the State tax on all privileges. 

Fifteen out of the seventeen districts elected Commissioners. 

No schools were in operation on the 20th of February. There are 
in the county 40 public school-houses. The schools can be carried 
on about three months in the year with the funds derived from the 
present rate of taxation. 

There are 2,008 white, and 178 colored children in the county, 
which compose the scholastic poimlation. 

DICKSON". 

The people of this county, at an election held on the first Satur- 
day of March, authorized a tax to be levied for school purposes. A 
partial organization has been made by the election of Commission- 
ers in some of the districts. The amount of the tax will be decided 
upon at the April term of the County Court. 
3 



34 

DYEE. 

This county refused to vote a school tax. Commissioners have 
been elected, but there are no schools in operation. The poll tax for 
1870 amounted to $1,700, which when prorated among the scholars 
between six and eighteen years, shows about 40 cents per scholar, 
and there being no other fund there have been no schools. When 
the poll tax for 1871 is collected it is the intention of the Commis- 
sioners to open the schools. 

Total scholastic population, 4,259, of whom 880 are black. 

FAYETTE. 

Five cents on the $100 was assessed at the January term for school 
purposes. Commissioners have been elected in most of the districts. 
1^0 other information is given. 

FENTEESS. 

This county has done nobly, levying a tax for the year 1872 of 40 
cents on the $100 of taxable property, and fifty cents on the poll for 
school purposes. Commissioners have been elected and the schools 
will be put in operation just as soon as collections begin. They will 
be kept up at least three months. The scholastic population for the 
vear 1871 was 1669. Complaint is made that the Commissioners do 
not meet the requirements of the law in forwarding their reports to 
the County Court Clerk. 

FEANKLIN. 

This county has voted a tax of 25 cents on the $100. But few 
Commissioners were elected up to the first of February. No other 
information is given. The Magistrates have not been furnished with 
a copy of the school law. 

GIBSON. 

This county is laying a broad and solid foundation for her school 
system. The County Court, at its January term levied a tax of 25 
cents on the $100, and increased the poll tax to $2 00, which is by 
law set apax^t for school purposes. Commissioners have been elected 
in every district. It is thought that the County Court will levy a 
tax next January so as to keep up the schools ten months in the 
year. The schools have been opened only partially. But prepara- 
tions are being made to open them all in August next. 

The scholastic population which was reported on the 30th of June, 



35 

1871, was: White males, 3,050— white females, 2,723; total whites, 
5,873. Colored males, 1,118 — colored females, 1,035 ; total colored, 
2,153. Grand total, 8,026. 

On the 5th of February, the Board of Education met, Col. L. P. 
McMurray, President, and A. S. Currey, Secretary and Superin- 
tendent. 

The Superintendent submitted the following report, which, on 
motion of M. Whitten, was received and referred to a committee of 
five, to report at the next meeting: 

To THE School Commissioners of Gibson County : 

On the last Thursday in December a meeting of the Board of Ed- 
ucation was attempted to be held, as required by law, but for want 
of a quorum — only eight districts being represented — the Commis- 
sioners were unable to transact any business; but by a unanimous 
vote requested the President and Secretary to urge the County Court 
to levy a tax of not less than 25 cents for common school jrturposes. 
The County Court at its January term veiy gcnerousl}' and with 
almost entire unanimity acceded to this request, and levied a tax of 
25 cents on the $100, upon all taxables, and increased the poll tax 
to $2, which by law is to be set apart for public schools. The Com. 
missioners, at the same meeting, deemed it advisable to call another 
meeting of the Board of Education on the first Monday in February 
and accordingly you have been notified and requested to meet to-day, 
for the purpose of perfecting your organization as a Board and 
preparing to commence operations as early as practicable under the 
present public school system. Although the school fund to be raised 
during the present year is not as much as the friends of Public Edu- 
cation would deem necessary to keep in operation our Public Schools 
yet in view of ihe onerous taxes upon the people, it was thouo-ht 
that a half loaf v^ould be better than none, and that the amount 
realized from all sources would be sufficient for at least five months 
during the year. The taxable jjroperty of Gibson county last year 
was valued by your assessors at $6,475,536. With a similar valua- 
tion for 1872, the tax at 25c will yield a school fund of ^16,188.84 
and the poll tax ($2) an additional sum of §7,478.00, amountiuo- in 
all to $22,666.84. We may very safely estimate that the School Fund 
to be collected for the present year, from all sources, including the 
ad valorem tax and the tax upon privileges, yet to be levied will 
not be less than $25,000. But under the present law the collection 
of this tax, except upon privileges, will not commence until the first 
of October next, and we cannot possibly depend upon one half of 



36 

the amount being collected befoi'e the first of January. These facts 
should be considered by the Commissioners, in connection with the 
proper time to commence the public schools. There is much anxiety 
on the part of the people to begin now, in fact some of the Commis- 
sioners have already opened their "free schools" with the small 
means on hand. Is not this premature, and can it give satisfaction 
unless it is generally applied in the district? Others again have 
very judiciously reserved their funds until a sufficient amount can 
be accumulated to put the public schools of their districts in success- 
ful operation. These districts, we may reasonably expect, will have 
flourishing schools while the former will languish and droop for want 
of the means which they have prematurely expended upon particu- 
lar localities. It is a matter of great importance to our public 
school system that some unanimity should be observed as to the time 
of commencing our schools, and in the mode of instruction, which, 
embraces not only the discipline but the series of text-books to be 
used throughout the county. Let us then perfect all our arrange- 
ments with a view to commencing all our public schools upon some 
day agreed upon throughout the whole county, not sooner, however, 
than the first day of July next. Earlier than this, I think would be 
irapiacticable. In the meantime we can select a suitable series of 
school-books to be used in all the schools, prescribe the limit of in- 
struction adapted to the means at our command, adopt the necessary 
rules for the government of the schools, construct good and commo- 
dious school- houses convenient to the people of your districts, elect 
and employ competent teachers, and the duties of your Superin- 
tendent should be defined, so as to instruct and co-operate with the 
School Commi sioners of each district, and he should be required to 
visit and inspect the management of each of the schools. If we 
wish to accomplish any good with our public schools, we must begin 
right, and let the whole system be carried on simultaneously. If 
our public school system is a success or failure, the credit or blame 
is due to the School Commissioners themselves, and with the system 
itself Our aim should he to make our public schools better than 
any we have heretofore had. If they are inferior to other schools, 
they will fail to give satisfaction to the people and accomplish the 
purposes for which they were designed. 

A. S. CUEEEY, Sec. and Supf. 

The President appointed M. Whitten, B. C. Scruggs, S. M. Pearce, 
W. Gr. Crank and J. M Senter. 



37 

The Board then adjourned until the last Thursday in March, 
owing to the County Court being in session. 

The interest manifested by the people of Gibson in her public 
schools is very great, and contrasts favorably with the apathj- and 
indifference shown by other counties, whose degree of ignorance is 
tenfold greater than in Gibson. Her action, however, upon this 
subject only insures, what was before highly probable, that it will 
in a few years become the wealthiest county in West Tennessee, 
Shelby only excepted. Her examj^le is heartily commended to those 
counties that are still lingering in the gall of bitterness and bonds of 
ignorance. 

GILES. 

No report, though we understand from a private source that the 
school tax has recently been rejected. The greatest objection to the 
levying of a school tax is the number of negroes in this county, who 
will, it is thought, reap the greatest advantages from such a tax. 
Other citizens are of opinion that schools will make them still more 
inefficient and unreliable as laborers. Time alone will dissipate this 
error. 

GEAINGER. 

Has voted no school tax, but Commissioners have been elected, 
and three schools are in operation in the county. 

There are 3,200 children reported in the county between six and 
eighteen j^ears of age, of whom 24 are colored. 

Ko other information given. The Clerk expresses the belief that 
the people are kindly disposed to public schools, but need instruction 
in the matter. A specific plan of organization is wanted, which he 
will find in the publication of the school laws sent him for distribu- 
tiom among the magistrates. 

GREENE 

Levied a tax of 15 cents on the 8100, at the xVpril Term of the 
County Court, for the year 1871. Also, a tax on privileges, and a 
poll tax, for school purposes, of 50 cents. The same tax was levied 
at the January Term for 1872. The privilege tax is only one-fourth 
the tax laid by the State on privileges. The amount realized for 
1871, was: 



38 

On tax on property $7,507 50 

Privileges 290 43 

Poll tax 2,943 75 

Total 110,738 68 

A full Board of Commissioners, representing every district, has 
been elected. 

Seven white schools were in operation on the 30th of January, 
averaging 30 scholars each, and three colored schools, averaging 18 
scholars. 

The schools can be kept up five months in the year. 
The scholastic population amounts to 6,714, of whom 531 arc col- 
ored. 

grtj:n'dy 

Has voted a tax of 20 cents on the 8100. It also gives the county 
j)o\\ tax, and 15 cents on all privileges. 

Commissioners have been elected in all the districts, but no schools 
were in operation on the 8th of February. 

It is thought that the schools can bo kej^t up nine months in the 
year. 

There are thirty-five scholars on an average that attend each dis- 
trict school when in operation. 

The scholastic population numbers 1,399. 

HAMILTON. 

The County Court of this county levied a tax at the April term, 
1871, for the support of schools, from which the araount of $9,000 
was raised, which gave nearly $2.00 for each scholar. 

Commissioners have been elected, but the schools in the county 
were all suspended at the making of the report in February. 

The schools in the city of Chattanooga are in a flourishing condi- 
tion. About twelve schools are in operation, and the announcement 
is made that a colored school will be taught in every ward where 
there is none in operation. 

The whole number of the scholastic population for the county is 
4351, of whom 1224 are colored. 

HAMBLEN 

Has voted a tax of 15 cents on the $100, and Commissioners have 
been elected in all districts. There are in the county 28 school dis- 



39 

tricts, and one school for whites has been taught in each district for 
from three to five months. Six schools for colored children have 
been taught for the same time in the county. 

About 1200 pupils are enrolled at the various schools. 

The scholastic population of the county amounts to 2,584, of whom 
393 are colored. 

Each Magistrate of the county has been furnished with a copy of 
the laws, relating to common schools, recently compiled and pub- 
lished, with the plan of organization for the Davidson county schools 
appended. 

HANCOCK. 

This county has levied a small tax for school purposes — 10 cents 
on the $100. As might be expected with so small an amount, no 
Commissioners have been elected, and no statistics have been col- 
lected. 

The step, however, is in the right direction, as the Court last year 
refused to levy any tax. Let it be known, once for all, that to make 
public schools jjopular, a sufficient tax should be levied to make 
them capable of accomplishing the ends for which they are intended, 
the instruction and elevation of the children of the country. 

HAEDEMAT^. 

Commissioners have been elected in this county, but with little to 
do, as the county has voted no school tax. The scholastic popula- 
tion in only six of the districts has been taken. The reported num- 
ber in these is 1524. There is no interest felt in the county on the 
subject of public instruction. 

HARDIN". 

The same may be said of this county. But few Commissioners 
have been elected, and no returns made of the scholastic population. 

HAWKINS. 

Commissioners have been elected in only a portion of the districts, 
and no enumeration of the scholastic population has been made 
throughout the county. A partial report is given, which shows 
2,800 children within the scholastic age. Of course no tax has been 
levied in this county. 



40 

HAYWOOD. 

No report. 

HENDEESOK , 

No rej)ort. 

HENEY. « 

No report. 

HICKMAN 

Eaised for taxation for school purposes for the year 1871, $2,013 54 
Commissioners elected. All schools suspended at present. Schools 
could be kept open from three to five months with the funds attain- 
able. 

The scholastic population amounts to 3,203. 

HUMPHEEYS. 

No report. 

HOUSTON. 

This little county, recently organized, has placed upon record her 
earnest desire to have her children instructed, by levying a tax of 
20 cents on the 8100, 50 cents on polls, and one-half the tax on priv- 
ileges, for public instruction. Commissioners are elected, and, though 
the schools on the 30th of January were suspended, they will be re- 
sumed, it is expected, in a short time. 

Scholastic population — whites, 1,001 ; colored 246. Total 1,247. 

JACKSON 

Voted down the tax submitted on the first Saturday in March. 
The vote was very light, and no effort was made to have it carried. 

JAMES. 

The County Court Clerk writes: 

"Our county has voted a school tax, but the amount of said tax 
has not been levied, but will be at the April Term of Court. 

School Commissioners have been elected, and will organize at an 
early day. 

There are no free schools in our county in operation, nor has there 

\ 



41 

been since its organization. We have no school fund except tliat 
derived from poll tax. 

The scholastic poj^ulation has not been fully reported to me. I 
can give the scholastic population very nearly correct. There has 
been about twelve hundred scholars reported, and two districts not 
reported, which will return about three hundred scholars more, which 
will make our scholastic population about fifteen hundred." 

This is a new county, and has shown an earnest of what it will do 
in the future. 

JEFFERSON 

Levied a tax of $8,775.94 for 1870 ; $3,936 for 1871 ; and about 
S6,000 for 1872, all for public instruction. Commissioners are elected, 
but no recent rej^orts have been made as to the number of schools 
taught. Scholastic population — white, 3,898; colored 620. 

JOHNSON. 

Magistrates pay no attention to the law requiring them to submit 
the levying of a tax to a vote of the people. 

KNOX. 

The Clerk of of the County Court says : 

" Knox county voted a tax of two mills for 1871, and also for 1872. 
Commissioners have been elected in every district in the county. 
As to the schools in operation I do not know, as their annual report 
for 1872 is not yet due, and there was none in operation at time of 
last report. The scholastic population of this county was at July 
Ist, 1871, 8,673. This is all the information that I can give at pres- 
ent, but please understand that I will take pleasure in giving you 
any information that you may desire, and that I can obtain, at 
any time that you demand the same." 

LAKE. 

No report. 

LAUDERDALE. 

No tax levied. Commissioners have been elected in all the dis- 
tricts, but refuse to act in many of them. No schools. A partial 
report of the scholastic population gives 2,477. 



42 

LAWEENCE. 

Nothing wliatever has been done in this county. 

LEWIS. 

Nothing eftected, but the election of a few Commissioners, and 
they refuse to serv^. 

LINCOLN. 

At the January term, the County Court of this prosperous county 
levied a tax of 30 cents on the $100, which with |1,785 on polls, will 
make about $17,134. 

A full Board of Commissioners have been elected, and 85 schools, 
with an average of 35 scholars each, were in operation last year, 
making the number of pupils attending the public schools, 2,375. 
It is thought these schools can be kept u^^ with the present levy five 
or six months a year. 

Scholastic population, 8,292. 

LOUDON. 

This county has done nothing but elect a few Commissioners. 

MACON. 

No tax levied. No schools. Commissioners elected in eight out of 
the twelve districts in the county. Eight districts report a scholastic 
population — whites, 1,015 ; colored 154. Total 1,162, 

MADISON. 

Nothing done. Magistrates have failed or refused to recognize 
the existence of the school law. It 'is thought, however, that some 
action will be taken in a short time. 

McMINN. 

An election was ordered to take the sense of the people as to 
voting a tax for school purposes. It takes place sometime in March. 
The Clerk of the County Court expresses the opinion that it will be 
voted down. Nothing done — not even an enumeration made of the 
scholastic population. 

McNAIRY. 

A tax of 20 cents on the $100 was levied at the January term for 
school purposes. Commissioners elected. Four months has been 



43 

the longest time schools have been kept np. The amount whrnh 
will be realized from the school tax for 1872 will reach ^-i,000. 

Scholastic population in 1871, 7,386. 

The Clerk of the County Court manifests quite an interest in 
school matters, and asks who is to control the schools? The Com- 
missioners of common schools of each civil district controls all mat- 
ters pertaining to schools in their district, subject, of course, to the 
action of the Board of Education, which is composed of the Com- 
missioners from every district in the county. 

MAEION. 

Thirty cents on the $100 was levied for public instruction in 1871 
also all the poll tax. From this the amount of $4,497.04 was col- 
ected. A few of the districts have failed to elect Commissioners. 

The scholastic population from only the 3d, 4t"li, 6th and 8th dis- 
tricts has been reported, which amounts in these districts to 855* 
A county that has levied such a liberal tax should surely be able to 
find persons who will act as Commissioners. 

MARSHALL. 

The Magistrates have virtually ignored the existence of the school 
lav^s — neither levying a tax nor submitting the same to a vote of the 
people. 

MAUEY. 

This county has levied a tax sufficient to raise about five thousand 
dollars, which, added to the amount now on hand, some seven thou- 
sand dollars, will give about twelve thousand dollars for common 
school purposes for the present year. Commissioners have been 
elected in all the districts, and schools will probably be opened in 
every district in a short time. 

MEIGS. 

No school tax voted. But few schools of anj^ kind in operation. 
1,691 were reported as belonging to the scholastic population. 

MONEOE. 

Nothing done. A private letter says : 

" It is folly to organize, or even to attempt to organize a system 
of schools, while the County Court controls the matter. I have not 
the most distant idea that they will ever assess a tax for that pur- 
pose. 



44 

If the State would inaugurnte a system, and levy a tax, vre pos- 
sibly might take a start in the right direction. Our citizens never 
complained of the school tax. We had flourishing schools until the 
money was all squandered, and those who had been emy)loycd as 
teachers were forced to sacrifice their claims, became disgusted with 
the management, and retired from the occupation. I can offer you 
no encouragement for the future, without you can infuse some ener- 
gy and life in our Court." 

MONTGOMERY. 

This county voted for common schools for the year 1870, $12,076.30, 
and for 1871, $1H,946.79. 

Commissioners have been elected in all the school districts in the 
county. 

There are no schools now in operation. It was thought best to 
wait until collections were made. 

There were taught in 1870 about sixty schools in the county five 
months, and for the year 1871 about the same number, sixty, for two 
and a half months, which exhausted the funds on hand, and the 
Commissioners have discontinued the schools. 

The delay in the collection of taxes was the sole cause of the sus- 
penpension of the schools. It was found impossible to meet the just 
demands of the teachers with tlie amount of taxes collected. These 
schools gave satisfaction in every part of the county, and the only 
drawback to them has been the tardiness with which collections 
were made. The suspension after teaching only two and a half 
months gave rise to a good many complaints, but no plan could be 
devised to keep up the schools, and j)ay the teachers, except to col- 
lect the tax. 

The scholastic population for 1870 was 7,903 

" " " 1871 was 7,381 

The County Court postponed the levy of taxes for 1872, until the 
April Term of the Court. 

MORGAN. 

No school tax voted yet. Commissioners have been elected in 
part of the districts only. There is but one school in operation^ 
which can be kept up nine months in the year. Scholastic popula- 
tion not reported. 



45 

OBION". 

A vote was taken in this county on the first Saturday in March 
to ascertain the wishes of the people as to levying a school tax, 
which resulted in its defeat. 40 white schools and 4 colored were 
kept open five months in the j^ear. 

The Clerk of the Count}^ Court writes : 

•' The report of the scholastic population, ending 1st October, 1871, 
has not been handed in fully as it was for 1870, therefore I have 
been waiting for same, and will not be able to get it from the fact 
that quite a number of Comtnisaioners in different districts have 
resigned, and it is a very hard matter to get others to accept or to 
take hold of the matter, as they say there is a penalty for non-per- 
formance of duties, and no pay in the same; do not understand the 
lavT, and a hundred other things and objections. Scholastic popula- 
tion 6,000 ; and that is all I can report, save there is but very little 
interest taken in the cause of public instruction, as a great many 
think it a failure, or a system incumplete." 

OVEKTON. 

The vote was submitted by the Court on the 10th of February 
last. The result 106 for it, and 500 against it. There was a Eail- 
road tax submitted the same day, one cause why the vote for the 
school tax was so small. Also the people do not like the present 
system of laws regulating common schools ; believe it a waste of their 
money. The hardness of the times and great scarcity of money 
■ also proved a great barrier to the voting of the tax. 

PEREY. 

The Clerk of the County Court in response to inquiries writes : 
In regard to Common Schools in Perry county, I am sorry to in- 
form you that they are almost entirely neglected. There has been 
no organization since the war. We have a few schools carried on 
by subscription, and one academic school. Our county has not 
voted a tax for suppoi-t of schools, and the scholastic population of 
this county has not been reported to me for 1872. 

POLK. 

Voted a school tax of 20 cents on the $100, realizing therefrom 
$2,352.18. Commissioners have been elected in eight districts out of 
ten. Several schools taught since July, 1871, but no report of the 
number made. 



46 

Scholastic population reported, 1,201. The Clerk saj^s in the con- 
clusion of his report : 

It might be proper for me ta state that the sheriff has advertised, 
time and again, in some of the districts, and no one to be found who 
would have the Commissioner's place. 

On the first Monday in January the- County Court voted down a 
a school tax, but ordered an election for the people to decide whether 
they would have a tax assessed for school pur^joses or not. 

PUTNAM. 

No report. 

BHEA. 

Nothing has been done except to elect Commissioners in three 
districts. The Trustee for the County holds $400 in State warrants, 
and 1265 arising from poll tax for school purposes. 

EOANB.' 

Levied a tax in January, 1871, of ten cents on the SlOO for schools. 
A much lai'ger tax would have been levied but for the fact that the 
county had to meet its obligation for a Poor house farm. It is thought 
' that 20 cents will be levied for school purposes in April, 1872. Com- 
missioners were elected in every part of the county, and an increased 
and growing interest is felt on the subject. Very few schools were 
in operation during the past year because it was thought best to 
collect the money before expending it. 

EOBEETSON. 

The proposition to levy a tax was voted down on the fourth Sat- 
urday in March. Nothing done. There is, however, a growing 
feeling in favor of public schools, especially in the towns. The friends 
of education feel confident that the action of the people in rejecting 
a school tax will be reversed when the subject is more thoroughly 
studied and canvassed. 

EUTHEEFOED. 

At the January term the County Court levied a tax of 15 cents on 
the $100 for school purposes. No report has been received from 
the Clerk. 



47 

SCOTT. 

Nothing received from this county except to take the numl)er of 
the schohistic population, which is, 

White 1,614 

Colored 7 

Total... 1,621 

SEQUATCHIE 

Has levied a tax of 30 cents on the $100 worth of taxable property, 
and 50 cents on each poll for public instruction for the year 1872 
Coniniissioners were elected in August, 1871. The fall schools hav-' 
ing closed about Christmas, there are no schools in operation at 
present. They will be resumed about the first of Jul}^. 
The amount raised by local taxation will enable th'e schools to con- 
tinue in operation about five months annually, in each of the 14 
school districts in the couurty. 

The scholastic population as reported on the 30th of June, 1871, 
numbered 770*. 

The Commissioners have not organized themselves in a County 
Board of Education, but it is thought they will do so at an early day. 

No tax was levied last year and of course but little, interest taken. 
in public schools. 

SEVIER. 

The magistrates have taken no action. Majority of citizens are 
desirous that some action should be taken as is evidenced by their 
having elected Commissioners in every part of the county. 

SHELBY. 

No report except from Memphis. No tax levied for a county sys- 
tem. 

In Memphis City Schools a fund is realized follows : 

From municipal school tax $62,000.00 

From tuition fees.. 1,000.00 

From building fund 2,300.00 



$64,300.00 
Last year an amount in excess of this of 25,000.00 was expended, 



48 

making total cost of running their schools for the year §89,309.00. 
Scholastic iJOj^uIation is 9,909; Total enrolled, 5,000. 

The public school system of Memphis has been in operation nine- 
teen years. The eighteenth annual report showed an average en- 
rollment of 3,409, with an average attendance of 1,850. The school 
department of the city government is managed by a Board of School 
Visitors, two from each ward, who are elected annually. A regu- 
lar course of graded study is prescribed. Ancient and modern 
languages and the higher mathematics are taught in the High 
Schools. The salaries of Superintendent, Teachers, etc., have aver- 
aged about as follow^s : Superintendent, S175 per month ; Secretary, 
$100 per month ; Principal of Male High School, $150 per month; 
Principal of Female High School, ^125 per month ; Male Principals 
of other schools, $100 per month ; Male Teachers, from $100 to 
SllO per month; Female Teachers, from $50 to $75 and $80 per 
month. 

The schools of the city are in a healthful condition, exhibiting 
increasing attendance and usefulness. 

SMITH. 

Commissioners have been elected in this county, but no tax has 
been levied. The scholastic population numbers 4,266. i^o other 
information given by the Clerk of the County Court. 

STEWAET. 

This county has voted no school tax, and but few Commissioners 
have been elected. 

Scholastic population — White 2,723 

" " Colored. 664 

Total 3,387 

The Clerk is of opinion that it would be better if the county does 
not levy a school tax, to have no money at a,}}, as the amount dis- 
tributed by the State is so small as to serve no good purpose and 
operates only as a discouragement to private enterprises. 

SULLIVAX. 

The County Court of this county refused to levy a tax, but sub^ 
mitted to the public the question of levying an ad valorem tax of 20 
cents on the $100 worth of property, which was lost. 



49 

CotRmisfiionors have been elected in a majority of the districts, but 
take but little interest in the mutter. The Clerk in reply to the in- 
terrogatories says : 

"The system in our county is in a disorganized condition in 
consequence of tlie constant changes in the school laws, the 
effects of the Avar, tvc, &c. Our Court-house has been destroyed 
by fire, with all the records pertaining to the school system, and 
notwithstanding etlorts to organize have been made, no organization 
has as yet been efleoted. 

"I am unable to state how many schools arc in actual operation 
at this time. Our county is divided into about GO scholastic districts, 
in each of which school-houses have been erected, and T would sup- 
pose that at this time schools are in operation in about half of these 
districts, all of which are white — no colored schools in the county. 

"The schools by a general estimate are not kept open more than 
five months in the year. 

"T am unable to saj' how many pupils are enrolled. 

" The scholastic population has been partially reported, and the 
game was reported to the Comptroller accordingly within the tin^e 
prescribed by law. 

"The aggregate amount of which, as will be seen by reference to 
said report, is 3,972. 

"I find b}^ an interview with the Secretary of Board of Education 
for this county, that the Commissioners of Civil District No. 3, sub- 
district No. 2, had filed a report of the scholastic population of said 
district with the Board, but not in ray office, which, if you can, I 
would be glad if you wMll insert same in report on file. Number of 
population in said district, whites, 99 ; colored,?; aggregate, 106 ; 
which added to amount heretofore reported of 3,972, makes the sum 
of 4,078, as number of scholastic population reported by Commis- 
sioners." 

SUMNEK. 

No public schools. The Magistrates have not levied a tax, and 
and have not submitted the question to the people. 

TIPTON. 

Nothing done, except to elect Commissioners and take the scho- 
lastic population. There are of whites, 2,116; colored, 1,587. Total 
3,703. 

4 



50 

TEOUSDALB. 

Magistrates have taken no action in the matter, virtually ignoring 
the existence of such a law. 

UNION. 

People are very favorable to schools. A sufficient ta.x will proba- 
bly be levied in April. 

VAN BUREN. 

No school tax levied. Commissioners elected in all the districts 

but one. Nothing else done, and no report given of the scholastic 

population. 

WARREN. 

January Term of County Court levied a tax of 10 cents on the 
$100 for school purposes. School Commissioners have been elected 
and Board of Education organized. Number of schools in opera- 
tion last November, under the present system, abcjut 30. Number 
of pupils enrolled about 60 to each school. Scholastic population 
about 3,500. 

W. H. Smith has been elected Superintendent, and is heartily on- 
gaged in building up a good system of schools. 

WASHINGTON. 

No tax. Commissioners elected. About fifty schools are reported 
as being in operation, but private ones are probably intended. Scho- 
lastic population about 5,000. 

WAYNE. 

The County Court has neither levied a tax nor submitted the ques- 
tion of a levy to the people. Commissioners have been elected, but 
take no interest in public instruction, the surest way in the world 
to deprive the people of these educational facilities to which the}" 
are entitled. It is precisely the case of Judges who will hold no 
Courts, or of legislators who will never meut. No information is 
given, except that thirteen districts report a scholastic population 
of 3,014. 

The Clerk thinks the only way in which public public schools can 
succeed in Wayne is to have the whole matter compulsory, both as to 
raising funds and laying off school districts. lie thinks parents and 
guardians would also have to be compelled to send their children to 
school. A County Superintendent is especially needed. 



51 

WEAKLEY. 

Ifo tax. County Court appointed Commissioners at January term 
to redistrict the count}'. Nothing else has fejeen done. 

WHITE. 

Nothing has been done except to elect Commissioners in the Ist, 
4th, 5th and 11th districts. An order has been made to have Com- 
missioners elected in the remainder. 

WILLIAMSON. 
No report. 

WILSON. 

The Magistrates refused to levy a tax, and have not seen fit to 
ijubmit it to a vote of the people. 



APPENDIX. 



The following reports were received too late for insertion in their 
pi*oper place. It will be seen that Campbell and Fentress have 
levied a higher tax for common schools than any of the counties. 

CAMPBELL. 

Campbell county has voted a tax of forty cents on the hundred 
dollars' worth of taxable property. School Commissioners have 
bvicn elected in all the school districts. There are no free schools 
ki operation, but about eight pay schools, all of which are numer- 
ously attended, containing about four hundred scholars. There are 
»t present no colored schools — the colored population being very 



52 

amall. The county has made provision for a five months school in 
each district. The scholastic population is about 3,000. 

WILLIAMSON. 

This county has levied a tax of 5 cents on the SlOO for public in- 
struction. No other steps have been taken so far as our information 
goes. People generally are either indifferent in regard to schools, 
nr feel that they are not able to endure a tax suflScient to make tlvom 
Q^lcient. 



lwSl,.°'' CONGRESS 

■Hi. 



